"Dsscats" (dsscats)
04/08/2015 at 18:48 • Filed to: None
18
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"Dsscats" (dsscats)
04/08/2015 at 18:48 • Filed to: None | 18
| 16 |
There are a couple reasons why it’s so hard to convey the feeling of Frank’s lotus to those who don’t know the car.
You aren’t with the car
You don’t know Frank
I met Frank up on Mulholland and convinced him to let me visit him and the car to hear more about it. It was one of the most incredible experiences ever, and here’s why.
The car itself is amazing. The shape, how wide it is, and the sheer aggressiveness of the body make it one of the most unique looking cars on the road. Frank started off with a Lotus 2-Eleven body shell and modified the crap out of it. He molded in a wing and made several more important aerodynamic modifications.
Of course, another amazing part of the car is the engine. It has 680 WHEEL horsepower, and is 1.8 liters. Let those numbers sink in. It’s still the Toyota 2ZZ block, but with a TON of modifications. Where as it had a compound charging system before (both a turbo and supercharger), it’s now “just” turbocharged. The other amazing part of the car is the E85 system. When it gets over a certain PSI (around 26 or so), another set of injectors starts mixing Isopropyl alcohol with the 91 octane gas, effectively mixing it’s own on the fly. It’s just amazing. And look at those headers.
Sorry for the crappy picture, but just LOOK!!!!!That’s pure pornography!!!!!
The most amazing part of this car isn’t really the car itself, but the owner, Frank. He has a background in restoration and an automotive past to envy. If you’ve ever lusted after it, he’s owned it. A few notable examples are a Miura SV, Renault R5 Turbo, Ferrari F40, and TWO Ford RS200s (including an Evolution). One of those RS200s, the one below, ended up having around 900 HP by the time he was done with it.
Frank is a genius. Just a straight up genius. He did basically everything on the car himself. And this was a no-compromise build too. The best example of this is the rear hinge. He and a friend built that whole setup by hand. Rather than cutting into the rear clip so it could clear the diffuser, they created a setup which lowers the diffuser when the clip is opened up so it doesn’t hit. Examples of this attention to detail are EVERYWHERE in this build, especially in the aerodynamics. Frank did nearly all the aerodynamic work on his own, molding the body into this creation. Though it’s hard to believe, given the insane styling, the entire car has been built with function being over form. Every scoop and duct and dip is designed to push this car into the road and give it grip, something which can be hard to get with 680 RWHP and only 1800 LBS of weight to keep it down. It’s an amazing car to see in something like Jay Leno’s videos, but even more amazing when you realize that every detail has been added with the goal of making this thing turn.
I’m hugely thankful to Frank for having me come visit, and it’ll be amazing to get a ride when it’s not raining. It’ll also be terrifying. The entire car vibrated and felt alive, even at idle. I’m still looking forward to the day when I’ll get a ride.
Once again, thanks to Frank for teaching me so much about engines, aerodynamics, and just cars. Enjoy the photos.
Daily driver 991 Turbo S peaking out under the wing.
Look at how low that diffuser sits when the rear clip is open!
Such insanely short throws
Scary__goongala!
> Dsscats
04/07/2015 at 22:06 |
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Very cool, thanks for sharing. Its always nice to hear about people who have amazing cars who are actually enthusiasts.
71MGBGT Likes Subarus of Unusual Colors
> Dsscats
04/08/2015 at 00:22 |
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I've seen this car in person, it's fantastic!
swaptastic
> Dsscats
04/08/2015 at 00:44 |
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Great article and photos.
Jake Stumph Racing
> Dsscats
04/08/2015 at 01:00 |
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Always curious, since Frank is a local, what exactly he does for a living? No one ever seems to touch on it, but the clearly is clearly LOADED to be able to develop cars like this.
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Dsscats
> Jake Stumph Racing
04/08/2015 at 01:11 |
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He's retired
cornerslide
> Dsscats
04/08/2015 at 07:46 |
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Yeah. A retired money farmer. :)
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Jake Stumph Racing
> Dsscats
04/08/2015 at 13:32 |
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Thank you Captain Pedantic, he's like 70 years old, so what is it that he used to do? ;)
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Dsscats
> Jake Stumph Racing
04/08/2015 at 13:47 |
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Still not quite sure. He was in automotive upholstery/restoration for a while though
FerrousJackal
> Dsscats
04/08/2015 at 19:36 |
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holy shit you TALKED to frank in his own garage? I'm in unspeakable awe. That's so damn cool.
Bowtie_Guy
> Dsscats
04/20/2015 at 13:05 |
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Dont forget the great video that “Tuned” had on it back when it was still a Lotus Exige and it was running the twin-charged configuration!
CallMeTURBO
> Dsscats
04/20/2015 at 13:12 |
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Hate to be pedantic but shouldn't it be Function over Form if the intent of the bodywork was to make it more aerodynamic and not just for show
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Dsscats
> CallMeTURBO
04/20/2015 at 13:36 |
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My bad, fixed
OneRotor
> Dsscats
05/29/2015 at 17:36 |
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If you need someone to take pictures that aren’t completely dark in the future, drop me a line. I’m not too far from Frank’s abode.
Stafford fabrication
> Dsscats
05/29/2015 at 23:20 |
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Frank didn't but most of that car himself
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Stafford fabrication
> Stafford fabrication
05/29/2015 at 23:29 |
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I designed and built the the rear hinge system, the pivoting defuser, turbo system , basically everything that is custom fabricated I did in my shop where all the mods where done since before it was on the smoking tire including the combo charge system and the alcohol system
Yogurt
> Dsscats
05/30/2015 at 18:43 |
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It runs gasoline and isopropyl alcohol only, so mentioning “E85” is a bit misleading. It is like running E85 (higher octane and charge cooling effects) but it’s not an “E85 system” as you put it.
The secondary isopropyl injectors are on at 26psig, but they actually start to come in at 18psig boost above 3000 RPM. The iso provides 25% of the total fueling for the engine at the higher boost and RPM levels and there is a failsafe pressure sensor to detect the isopropyl fuel system pressure. If it falls below a certain pressure, the staged injection system is disabled and the ECU drops the boost to the wastegate spring pressure of 18psig to keep the engine intact. (which has happened a time or two)